MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba-Sutter Food Bank and some 20 other local food providers for low- income families are seeing a sharp increase in demand for nutritious foods this summer.

Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way and the Grocery Outlet team up each year to put a solid dent in serving that demand with the “Cash for Food Drive.”

During the month of July, $21,829 was collected and 100% of the donations were distributed to 13 food providers in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties. The bulk of the funds, $18,027, came from Yuba City Grocery Outlet’s “Freedom from Hunger” promotion in which their customers donate in exchange for a future discount.

Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way Executive Director Bob Harlan said, “There is a major increase in demand as low-income families are being hit hard by the high inflation rate, which has seen sharp jumps in the cost of food, rent and utilities among other things.”

“And with a lot of the federal and state government aid during the pandemic going away, families are struggling,” Harlan said.

In addition to the “Cash for Food Drive” this year, YSC United Way also has a Holiday Turkey Drive in association with Results Radio, which garnered enough donations to feed and estimated 6000 people last November and December and YSC United Way over 24 years has coordinated the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Emergency Food and Shelter Program,” which this year distributed $474,814 for food and emergency shelter in Yuba and Sutter Counties.

“Our United Way takes the needs of struggling families very seriously. A 2019 statewide United Ways of California study showed that locally, 30% of families have trouble making ends meet each month” Harlan said.

Organizations receiving funds from the “Cash for Food Drive” included: The Catholic Ladies Relief Society; The Christian Assistance Network; Crossroads Community Church; First Presbyterian Church of Marysville; The Ministerial Association of Colusa County; The Salvation Army Yuba-Sutter Corps; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; St. John’s Episcopal Church St.; Vincent de Paul; Twin Cities Rescue Mission; Yuba City Community Adventist Church; and The Yuba-Sutter Food Bank.